Revelation 5:1-7 (NKJV) And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
V1 “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” Sitting on the throne is the God the Father, for Jesus sits at His right hand (1 Peter 3:22). The scroll contains the sins, charges, verdict, and the just punishment for evil. The seven seals are intended for a specific, qualified individual. Only Jesus is qualified. See verse 5.
V2 “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” A test of knowledge. No one would come forth, for all in heaven (the holy angels and all believers from Abel to the Rapture) are not holy. The criteria is holiness, messiahship, and being crown prince. Only Jesus has these and many more. The loud voice is to extend the message to all present. Why would anyone think there was someone else? Jesus is God (Colossians 2:9). Jesus has the full anointing and power of the Holy Spirit (as a human)—John 3:34 and Isaiah 11:2-5.
V3 “And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.” No created being has the qualifications. This includes all spirits (heaven), all humans (earth), and all the dead (Hades). What are the qualifications? They are 1) must be God to have the ability to render judgment, 2) human to have the title of crown prince to rule on Earth, 3) a Jew, a descendant of King David, 4) sinless or he would need judgment on himself, 5) redeemer, 6) the Passover Lamb to provide the atonement for sin, 7) resurrection to prove His sinlessness, approval of the Father, and leader of the church and king of the universe, 8) faithful, 9) truth in life, death, and resurrection, 10) and sitting on the right hand of the Father. Jesus is the only one qualified and has the ability and authority to enact these coming judgments.
V4 “So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.” John was very disappointed because no one was found qualified to open the scroll. John is a very passionate man for he can become angry; see Mark 3:17 and 3 John 1:10. He can also weep as here.
V5 “But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” Praise God for His Son, the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the Lion—being of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:9, Matthew 1:1-17, and Luke 3:23-33). He is the Root of Jesse (prophetic for being a descendant who is a king)—Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 11:10, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and Romans 1:3.
V6 “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Now, John’s attention is drawn to a Lamb in the midst of the throne room. This Lamb has marks of death. This lamb is the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:7 and Revelation 5:5). The seven horns = complete and total authority, omnipotence. The seven eyes = omniscience and omnisapience.
V7 “He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who was sitting on the throne.” Since He is qualified, He approaches the throne where God the Father sits. If He was not qualified, He would have died. Compare Exodus 3:5 (Moses with God) and Exodus 19:21 (the nation of Israel).
We learn:
- Jesus is the only one qualified to authorize and initiate the judgments of God’s wrath (John 5:2)
- The scroll has the judgments